Princess Arianna stepped out of her horse-drawn carriage and onto the hard-packed dirt road cutting through the center of an immense field. The afternoon sun beat down on her scalp, making her long hair feel as if it would be hot to the touch. Surrounding her was a vast sea of navy blue military tents, billowing lightly in the breeze. They were home to over a thousand battle-ready Celestian troops, and a few hundred wounded men as well. Soldiers and horses bustled by, carrying crates of food and weapons. The men were so engrossed in their duties they didn't even notice their princess standing amongst them, which Arianna thought was probably for the best.

She shielded her eyes from the intense sun using her hand, and scanned the surrounding area. Finally she saw Sir Rowan, a middle-aged commander in her father's army. He had a kind face, with close-cropped brown hair and a trimmed beard. His body was protected by a full set of silver plate armor, polished up and shining in the sunlight. He met her eyes and eagerly waved her over, his facing breaking into a warm smile.

"There he is Charlotte," Arianna said, pointing the man out to her companion.

"Where? Oh! I see him!" Charlotte said excitedly.

The two girls made their way over to Sir Rowan, and he knelt down in respect as the princess approached.

"You may rise, Sir Rowan," Princess Arianna said gently. The armored knight quickly sprang up, eager to talk to the princess.

"Princess Arianna, you made it! It's wonderful to see you safe and in good health, Your Grace." He paused a moment and looked over at Charlotte. "And who might this be?"

"This is Charlotte, a priestess of Celestia. She is known to receive holy light from God, and specializes in healing the wounded. I'm sure she'll be very useful to your men," Princess Arianna said.

"At your service," Charlotte said with a polite curtsy.

"I'm glad to make your acquaintance Charlotte. I'm sure you'll be a great help to us. And you princess, you have no idea how much it will mean to the men that you're here. This battalion just came off the front lines, and they've suffered heavy losses. Even my own nephew, Sir Everett, perished in the fighting near the border just a week ago," Sir Rowan said, frowning for a moment.

"I'm sorry to hear that Sir Rowan," The princess said softly. "I do hope my presence here can encourage the troops, it's the sole the reason I've made the journey from the capital. My father advised against it, but I want the men to know that their princess is behind them. Besides, he's occupied fighting on the front lines, so for now I'm in charge of making my own decisions," she said with a smile.

"I will do my utmost to make sure you are safe for the duration of your visit, princess. The men will never forget your act of bravery, and it will inspire them to fight even harder for their homeland. Now, I'm sure you two are exhausted from your travels, so please, rest in my tent for a while. You can address the men at sundown, when the day's work is over," Sir Rowan said.

Princess Arianna and Charlotte entered the commander's tent, complete with a bed, a mirror, and a bucket for washing. A golden eagle was stitched into the interior canvas, the insignia of Celestian royalty. Arianna sat on the bed, and Charlotte plopped down beside her.

"You must let me brush your hair princess, it's dirty from travel. Keeping up appearances is very important you know," Charlotte said.

"Very well," Arianna responded.

She turned and allowed Charlotte to gather her long strands of hair into her hands. Charlotte began methodically brushing, admiring the princess' beautiful locks. Arianna's hair was thick and voluminous, but not curly. The color was difficult to describe, an ashen tone with a dark indigo hue which could seemingly change depending on the lighting. It matched Arianna's eyes, which were a deep sapphire blue, unlike any Charlotte had ever seen before. She sometimes envied Princess Arianna's beautiful hair, as Charlotte's own was light blonde in color, and in her opinion far too straight. However, anytime she voiced this, Princess Arianna would have none of it, kindly insisting that blonde was the most appealing hair color one could wish for.

Charlotte finished with the princess' hair, and the two washed their faces and hands with warm water. A dutiful soldier brought them a simple meal of cured meat, cheese, and bread. "I know it's not fit for a princess, Your Grace, but I'm afraid its all we have," he said apologetically.

"We are grateful for whatever you can provide," Arianna said graciously. They eagerly ate both plates, famished from their lengthy journey. By the time the two girls had finished their supper, Sir Rowan returned. He strode into the tent, pushing the curtain doors aside.

"It is nearly dusk, and the men are eagerly awaiting you, princess," he said, extending his hand to Princess Arianna. She took it gently and Sir Rowan helped her onto her feet.

"Lead the way. I would like Charlotte to accompany me if it's not too much trouble," Arianna said.

"It's no trouble at all, princess," he replied.

Sir Rowan lead them through the maze of tents, making for the center of the field. They were escorted by four elite guards, but Arianna felt them to be unnecessary. She was certain that every man in the in the encampment would gladly lay down his life for her, and would sooner die than harm her. Celestians were fiercely loyal to the crown, as King Caedrich had a reputation for being a fair and just ruler. He was revered by the nobility and commoners alike, and lead his men from the front lines, despite the danger.

The group finally arrived at a makeshift stage made of timber, and the crowd of soldiers parted so Princess Arianna could make her way atop it. Charlotte remained next to Sir Rowan, giving Arianna a smile of encouragement as she climbed the wooden stairs. The princess looked out at hundreds of faces who had fallen dead silent, eagerly anticipating her words. Her heart began to beat quickly, and she noticed her hand were shaking with nerves. She took a deep breath, and reminded herself why she was there.

They've all been fighting night and day for me. A good speech is the least I owe them.

"Brave warriors, your efforts have not gone unnoticed," she began. "Each and every one of you has done his part to protect our kingdom, and for that, I am forever grateful. Celestian soldiers have been heroes ever since the dawn of our nation, fighting to preserve our way of life, and our God. I'm confident you will all continue their legacy with pride. And for those who have fallen," she said, glancing over to Sir Rowan, "Paradise awaits them, as they have given the ultimate sacrifice. I shall pray for their safe journey to The Heavens. As your humble princess, I only hope to be as useful in our struggle against the Azirians as all of you are. I will strive to maintain our farms and trade routes, keeping you fed and well equipped. I will ensure you are treated fairly, and given adequate rest and leave. No matter what happens, your service to this great kingdom will never be forgotten. I have the utmost confidence in you, just as you wholeheartedly believe in me. I know in my heart that we will triumph in the end. Long live Celestia!" she finished.

The vast crowd of soldiers burst into applause, some crying out in joy. Seeing their princess face-to-face gave them more courage than ever before as they gazed longingly at her beauty and grace. They went on cheering for several minutes, and Princess Arianna let out a long sigh of relief. As the applause died down, she had one more announcement to make.

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"I would like to give each of you my appreciation, so if you'll form an orderly line, I shall commend you personally," she said.

The soldiers were stunned. They couldn't believe what they were hearing, but they quickly scrambled into a perfect line without a word. There was about twelve hundred men, and each one of them waited patiently to be greeted by the princess. She stood respectfully as the first soldier approached, and kneeled before her. He was a young man who looked to be about nineteen years old, just a few years older than herself. His hair was wild and unkempt, and he had dark bags under each eye, as if he hadn't slept in weeks. He kneeled courteously without speaking.

"What is your name, soldier?" Princess Arianna asked.

"It's J-James, Your Grace," he said nervously.

"James," she repeated. "Have you lost anyone close to you, James?"

"My older brother," he replied. "He died in an Azirian siege as we defended The Great Bridge Riordus."

"Your brother was a hero. If we lost Riordus, Celestia would surely fall. I would be dead if it wasn't for his efforts, and yours," she said softly. "What was his name?"

"His name was Trent. We're commoners, so he had no titles, but I promise you he fought harder than any high ranking paladin," James said proudly.

"Thank you for telling me about him. Tonight I will pray that Trent makes it safely to Paradise, and that you will be safe in your future endeavors," Princess Arianna said.

James bowed respectfully, and quickly walked away, not wanting to overstay his welcome or inconvenience the princess. This went on well into the night, with each soldier approaching and kneeling before Princess Arianna. She would ask their name, and how they were holding up. She asked if they had any family or friends who had perished in the war, and promised to pray for them.

Meanwhile, Charlotte went to visit he men who were severely wounded, and channeled God's light to heal them. She would clasp their injuries in her small hands, and the holy energy would flow through her, mending shattered bones and closing torn flesh. The injured soldiers were elated once they felt her incredible touch, many already eager to return to battle. Very few priestesses knew the art of healing with holy light, and Charlotte was exceptionally gifted. To the soldiers, her abilities seemed like magic.

Once finished with the main force, Princess Arianna joined Charlotte with the wounded. She greeted each of them just as she had the others. Many of them were already up and walking after Charlotte's healing, much to the delight of the princess. They thanked the princess and the priestess profusely, some shedding tears of joy and appreciation. Arianna was grateful that her presence meant so much to them, and that Charlotte could heal their wounds. By the time both girls finished their duties, it was well past midnight and they were equally exhausted.

They retired to Sir Rowan's tent, as he was on night watch duty and graciously offered it to them. Charlotte fell asleep immediately, and the princess could hear her small breaths going in and out at a steady tempo. Arianna often had trouble sleeping, and lied awake for several hours before her eyelids finally fell shut. In the early hours of the morning, she was disturbed by a horrible sound that entered her dreams, and woke her abruptly.

"Fire! Fire!" she heard in the distance.

She hurriedly stood up and exited the tent, looking around wildly. Sure enough, she could see plumes of thick black smoke, rising on the far side of camp. Soldiers ran past, frantically carrying buckets of water towards the red glow across the sea of tents. A spooked horse charged by, almost trampling her as she dodged out of its path. She could see the fire growing by the second, rising higher into the night sky. Soon, a massive inferno was raging, consuming everything in its path. The princess woke Charlotte, and they quickly dressed themselves.

"What's happening?" Charlotte said sleepily. Princess Arianna lead her by the wrist out of the tent, desperate to find help. As they walked outside, Sir Rowan arrived, breathing heavily.

"Princess Arianna! Thank God you're alright. Both of you need to come with me, I'll lead you to safety," he said between gasps for air. Princess Arianna nodded, her mind racing with questions.

"Get behind me, and don't stop, no matter what!" Sir Rowan said.

He lead the girls towards the forest, the three of them running as fast as they could through the crowded encampment. "How did this happen?!" The princess called out.

"I don't know, but I don't like it. This could be very well be an Azirian raid. We need to get you as far away from the camp as possible, then regroup and figure out our next move," he replied.

"Agreed," said the princess. She followed Sir Rowan closely, making sure Charlotte wasn't falling behind. They made their way through the chaotic grounds, dodging the hundreds of soldiers running this way and that. After a few minutes they finally made it to the edge of the tents, and the tree line was in sight. Arianna let out a sigh, relieved that they escaped the treacherous flames unharmed.

Suddenly, two horsemen emerged from the camp, blocking their path. They wore the traditional blue and silver suits of Celestian Paladin armor, and had longswords sheathed at their waists. They both wore full-face helms, obscuring their identities.

"Step aside! I'm getting the princess to safety," Sir Rowan yelled desperately.

Strangely, the pair said nothing. Instead they dismounted, and began walking towards Sir Rowan. They had an ominous air about them, and their silence added to the mystery.

"Did you hear me?! I said step aside!" Sir Rowan screamed.

The armored men continued to ignore his words, striding closer with each moment. As they reached spitting distance the strange warriors unsheathed their swords, continuing to close the gap.

"Impostors?!" Sir Rowan shouted incredulously. He turned back to Princess Arianna and Charlotte. "I'll distract them. You two, run into the forest, and don't look back! Now!" he yelled.

He drew his own sword and bravely approached the two strange men. He swung his weapon at the first man, who blocked his strike, and returned with a slash of his own. Sir Rowan expertly parried, and lunged at the second warrior, managing to land a blow to his leg. Princess Arianna grabbed Charlottes hand and ran as fast as she could, heading for the safety of the trees. She could hear the intense clashing of weapons as Sir Rowan traded blows with the mysterious attackers, fighting for his life.

He won't fall. Sir Rowan is one of our best. He'll be okay.

The girls finally made it to the edge of the forest, and Princess Arianna looked back, hoping to see Sir Rowan heading their way. She gasped at what she saw instead. Sir Rowan had fallen to his knees, but was still clutching his sword valiantly. One of the armored men swung downward at his neck, trying to cut his head from his shoulders. Sir Rowan raised his weapon to meet the savage strike, his sword stopping the attack with a resounding clang. Hope swelled in Arianna's heart, but it quickly turned to despair. The second warrior ran his weapon through Sir Rowan's chest, penetrating his breastplate. The brave commander's body buckled, and he fell forward, dead.

The princess clasped a hand over her mouth, silencing her pained scream. Charlotte tried to look back but Arianna grabbed her once again, and dragged her into the forest. She ran as fast as she could, making sure the priestess was close behind. Before making it even a hundred feet, Princess Arianna heard the sound she'd been dreading. The sound of hooves galloping over the forest floor, getting closer by the second. She immediately dropped, and pulled Charlotte down too. They tried to conceal themselves in a small hollow in one of the large trees, hoping the darkness would obscure their silhouettes. The two horsemen approached their hiding spot, slowing their mounts to a halt.

"I just saw them, right over here. They couldn't have gone far," one man said.

"Then we'll dismount and look for them. Tree by tree if we have to," the other replied gruffly.

Arianna's heart began pounding wildly in her chest, and her stomach felt like it was full of iron. She clasped Charlotte's hand tightly, and both of them huddled as deep as they could into the small wooded nook. The sound of the men shuffling around just a few feet away was terrifying. Arianna squeezed her eyes shut and tried to breathe as quietly as she could. Incredibly, the men's footsteps began getting further away. Neither Charlotte nor Arianna dared to speak, hoping the men had overlooked them.

"Hold on a second, what's that over there?" one said.

The princess could hear his footsteps crashing through the leaves, heading right for her. Seconds later, a firm hand gripped her by the arm. She yelped in shock and tried to pull away, but she was quickly overpowered by the strange man. She looked over and saw Charlotte had suffered the same fate. Arianna tried to scream but the man put a hand over her mouth, muffling her cries. Both girls had their hands tied behind them, and were escorted to the horses. The next thing they knew they were being whisked away, deep into the forest.